Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Notre Dame
EMU Comes Up Short at Nationally-Ranked Notre Dame
12/2/2009 10:25:25 PM | Women's Basketball
Sophomore Tavelyn James pours in 21 points
Box score.
NOTRE DAME, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team's first trip to the University of Notre Dame in 27 years was a memorable one, as the Eagles gave the nationally ranked Fighting Irish everything they could handle in a 69-59 setback Wednesday evening, Dec. 2, here at the Purcell Pavilion. The Fighing Irish, ranked fifth in the latest Associated Press poll and sixth in the current ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll, needed a 19-7 run mid-way through the second half to escape with the hard-fought victory.
EMU's athleticism and speed wreaked havoc on Notre Dame, as the Eagles out-rebounded the Irish (45 to 43) while blocking six shots and forcing 19 turnovers. The Green and White held an early 14-11 lead before UND rallied back to take an eight-point lead at halftime. In the second half, EMU again used tenacious defense to open the second half on an 11-1 run to retake a 38-36 advantage. However, an 11-0 run ensued for Notre Dame to push the edge back to nine points, 51-42, as Eastern was unable to get any closer than four points the rest of the way.
With the loss, the Eagles drop to 5-2 on the young season, while the Fighting Irish remain perfect at 7-0. Eastern Michigan has now played 10 nationally ranked opponents in the program's 34-year history, but has yet to knocked off a team ranked in the top 25.
Sophomore Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford) again led the way with a 21 point effort to lead all scorers. James was 8-of-21 shooting on the night along with a perfect 5-of-5 from the charity stripe. Junior Sydney Huntley (Cincinnati, Ohio-Purcell Marian) chipped in 10 points and freshman Lindsey Mahone (Corpus Christi, Texas-Mary Carroll) nearly turned in a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Lindsay Schrader and Skylar Diggins each scored 15 points for Notre Dame, while Becca Bruszewski notched 14 points. On the night, UND shot 40.3 percent (25-of-62) but committed 19 miscues leading to 14 EMU points.
The defensive intensity out of the gate was ratcheted up for both teams but it was the Eagles holding a 6-4 edge via a James fast-break layup with showing on the clock. UND turned the ball over five times in the opening 11 minutes, leading to seven EMU points as the advantage grew to its largest of the game at three, 14-11.
However, the Eagles' offense would go silent allowing the Irish to serge into control with a 9-0 run over the next 2:06 to go on top 20-14. A Melissa Lechlitner free throw with 1:25 to go in the period gave the Irish the biggest lead of the stanza at 12, 33-21. Not to be outdone though, James and Mahone combined for six points in the final minute to pull the Green and White back within eight, 35-27, as the teams headed into the lockerroom at the break.
UND was paced in the half by Bruszewski with 10 points, while James keyed the EMU offense with 10 points on 5-of-13 shooting. EMU held a slight 23-22 advantage on the glass, but UND posted a better shooting percentage (40.0 to 32.4).
The second half began much the same way as the first for Eastern Michigan, this time an 8-0 run to open the period gave the Eagles the lead back at 38-35. Notre Dame was finally able to get on the board with a free throw with nearly three minutes gone and then picked up its first field goal at the 14:33 mark when Schrader laid one off the glass to tie it at 38.
The back-and-fourth contest continued, as Huntley tossed in a pair of free throws to give Eastern its final lead of the contest at 42-40 with 12:58 yet to play. But again the gritty Irish bounced back when Natalie Novosel scored inside to spark an 11-0 run highlighted by a three-point play by Diggins.
The Eagles closed to within four, 53-49, when junior Kristin Thomas (Winter Park, Fla.-Edgewater) scored on a layup with 3:53 left. But another 8-0 run by the Irish put the game out of reach.
Eastern Michigan returns to the hardwood Saturday afternoon, Dec. 5, to renew the rivalry with the University of Detroit Mercy. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. from Calihan Hall in Detroit. An audio only broadcast will be exclusively on Eagle All-Access beginning at 3:20 p.m. with Chad Bush calling the action.
